GENERAL SMUTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 April 1923, Page 3

GENERAL SMUTS.

A I RICAN AFFAIRS. AUSTRALIAN- AM) N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. (Received this day at 0.15 a.m.) CAPETOWN. April 11. General Smuts addressing a monster meeting in the Cilv Hall derided the Nationalist-Labour alliance. He denied I lortzog's charge that the Government were agents of the British Government. He dei hired rlie charge are-e from I lert z.og’s unalterable hostility to the British Government. He had revived racialism and if he came to the helm raeialisni would flourish from one end of the land to the other. .-south Africa’s programme was based on industrial development in which great progress had already been made. THE EMPIRICS POWER. (Received tin's day at 0.25 a.m.) CAPETOWN. April 14. General Smuts at City Hall dealing with the European question said it was impossible that the British Commouv.ea 1 t.h should he a mere iudiilcrcnt spectator in the rapidly developing trisi: in Europe where loivcs were being set going such as might well end in the min of European i ivilisatioii. The time was rapidly owning, it it bad not already come, when the British Commonwealth might have to define its position in certain eventualities. 'I he Commonwealth still has the position mill power to lie tile main European bulwark to the world - - peace. '1 he League of Nations in itself is devoid of power and can rely only on a full, disinterested backing of those having power, and no selfish aims of their own to serve. Foremost amongst these was the British Empire, wlm-e greatest intros t was undoubtedly the peace !| 1 Tim worM It- position should he da'ined. it's policy made ilcar and all the world freed from doubt and misuiiderstnmting. not in the •Jingo spirit, not in the spirit of arrogance and mterineddhug. hut in a sincere, i.nparl.n 1 iriondsliip U, all, in the spirit of bumble, but determined lovalty to the great cause of peace, ft should speak betore it was too late and before the passions ot the nations carried them to; tar His view was that never m all u< l.is.op. has it had a greater opportunity tor great human service. 1 trust it v I realise the greatness and glory ot »> peaceful mission and speak the word, which, with the exception of America, it alone can still speak among the nations of the world. Cen. smuts stated he had received an intimate personal letter from Air toil rove as follows: "I be British .... ]lime in acted in the best of good f;V th ' and we have kept faith «itli them. Gen. Smuts regarded the-e nou s .' proof that Ireland had at last turned back on the blood stained past, and a fruitful era of understanding and on altv between her and Britain woulcl tcnPtcc the tragedy of the past tn • Smuts sincerely wished Ireland, like South Africa, might m the hnal reconciliation with England reap a great rewan! from all her past suffeimgs.